Yosua 6:1-4

6:1 Now Jericho ¹  was shut tightly ²  because of the Israelites. No one was allowed to leave or enter. ³  6:2 The Lord told Joshua, “See, I am about to defeat Jericho for you, ⁴  along with its king and its warriors. 6:3 Have all the warriors march around the city one time; ⁵  do this for six days. 6:4 Have seven priests carry seven rams’ horns ⁶  in front of the ark. On the seventh day march around the city seven times, while the priests blow the horns.

[6:1]  ¹ map For location see Map5 B2; Map6 E1; Map7 E1; Map8 E3; Map10 A2; Map11 A1.

[6:1]  ² tn Heb “was shutting and shut up.” HALOT 2:743 paraphrases, “blocking [any way of access] and blocked [against any who would leave].”

[6:1]  ³ tn Heb “there was no one going out and there was no one coming in.”

[6:2]  ⁴ tn Heb “I have given into your hand Jericho.” The Hebrew verb נָתַתִּי (natatti, “I have given”) is probably best understood as a perfect of certitude, indicating the certainty of the action. The Hebrew pronominal suffix “your” is singular, being addressed to Joshua as the leader and representative of the nation. To convey to the modern reader what is about to happen and who is doing it, the translation “I am about to defeat Jericho for you” has been used.

[6:3]  ⁵ tn Heb “and go around the city, all [you] men of war, encircling the city one time.” The Hebrew verb וְסַבֹּתֶם (vÿsabbotem, “and go around”) is plural, being addressed to the whole army.

[6:4]  ⁶ tn Heb “rams’ horns, trumpets.”